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Chapter 5
The Mosaic of Eighteenth-Century America
1689–1768
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Explain the causes of crisis and transformation in northern New Spain in the late
seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.
• Describe key features of exploration and colonization in eighteenth-century New France.
CHAPTER OVERVIEW
The chapter introduction illustrates the most far reaching evidence of diversity—and conflict—in
eighteenth-century North America, the struggle for control of the continent waged by the French,
the English, and Native American tribes. That rivalry erupted into three major wars fought in
both Europe and America between 1689 and 1748, eventually culminating in the Seven Years’
War, a conflict discussed at greater length in Chapter 6. Diversity of peoples and interests
characterized not only the North American continent as a whole, but also the British settlements
clustered along the Atlantic seaboard. A century of settlement had not produced a homogeneous
society on the mainland of British North America. Instead, colonial society in 1700 was
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THEMES
Crisis and Transformation in Northern New Spain
As European rivals laid claim to more and more and more of North America, Spain felt the need
to take control of buffer lands to protect its interests, especially the silver mines of Mexico. The
new spaces were almost entirely controlled by Native Americans. Texas was a particular interest,
and Spain began to fortify its claim by building missions and presidios. The Native Americans
Eighteenth-Century New France
Most eighteenth-century French Americans lived along the St. Lawrence River. The population
there grew steadily through natural increase, and by 1760 the valley was home to about 75,000
French colonists. In areas to the west and north known as the pays d’en haut (upper country) the
French depended on Native American goodwill as an anchor. French dependence on their Native
Forces of Division in British North America
In the 1700s, the American population grew at a rapid rate from both natural increase and
immigration. The pressure of that expanding population on older towns and villages pushed
settlement westward, creating communities that developed different interests and distinct
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Slave Societies in the Eighteenth-Century South
The plantation districts of the eighteenth-century southern coast became tense and embattled
regions too, as slave resistance became more frequent and successful. The first half of the
eighteenth century was a period of massive slave importation. As more Africans arrived, the
Enlightenment and Awakening in America
Religious divisions among eighteenth-century Americans compounded the tensions of racial,
regional, and ethnic diversity. The two key factors that intensified religious conflict were the
spread of Enlightenment ideas and the influence of the first Great Awakening. While the
Anglo-American Worlds of the Eighteenth Century
Despite these divisions in colonial society, a majority of white Americans shared a pride in their
common English ancestry. The parent country set the tone for American taste and fashion, and
colonials revered the British constitution as providing the world’s best and freest form of
LECTURE STRATEGIES
Improbability of the American Revolution
One key idea to discuss with respect to the material in this chapter is the improbability of the
American Revolution. Seen from the perspective of 1754, the prospect of a majority of
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Formation of African American Society
The evolution of African American society in this era is another area of particular importance
because of two crucial developments. The massive slave importations of the first half of the
Carolina.
Religion and Reason
The first Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s was an event of considerable importance in
shaping the outlook of ordinary Americans, and one that will both intrigue and puzzle many
students. The Great Awakening attracted many converts among young people, influencing the
attitudes and behavior of the men and women who would be the adult leaders of their
TEACHING SUGGESTIONS
The Turner Thesis in the Eighteenth Century
Tensions among the English, French, and British on the borders of empire represented just one
kind of conflict on the eighteenth-century frontier. While Frederick Jackson Turner emphasized
the frontier’s function as a “safety valve” that reduced social discord by drawing off people
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American Views of England
It may also be worthwhile to explore Anglo-American connections in the middle of the
eighteenth century, focusing primarily on American views of England. Students could be asked
Mid-Eighteenth-Century Sources
There are some excellent primary sources that work well alongside this chapter. There are
original sources from which excerpts can be drawn that illustrate colonial social evolution
POWER OF PROCESS FOR PRIMARY SOURCES
Power of Process for Primary Sources is a critical thinking tool for reading and writing about
primary sources. As part of Connect History, McGraw-Hill Education’s learning platform, Power
of Process contains a database of over 400 searchable primary sources in addition to the
capability for instructors to upload their own sources. Instructors can then select a series of
strategies for students to use to analyze and comment upon a source. The Power of Process
framework helps students develop essential academic skills such as understanding, analyzing,
and synthesizing readings and visuals such as maps, leading students toward higher order
thinking and writing.